This archive report was first published on 13 May 2020.
Kenya: Ruto Allies Vow to Stay Put, As Uhuru Oversees Changes At Senate ¶
On Monday, May 11, 2020, President Kenyatta presided over the sacking of Senate leaders allied to his deputy William Ruto, in a move that has sparked a heated debate within the Jubilee Party.
However, in a show of defiance, Senators Kipchumba Murkomen and Susan Kihika, who were kicked out as Majority Leader and Majority Whip, respectively, vowed to stay put, claiming the changes were illegitimate.
"We can't run the country through forgery," Mr Murkomen told reporters at Parliament Buildings, attacking the President for the way he handled the meeting at State House.
According to State House, 20 lawmakers attended the meeting, but Ruto's team released a list showing that 22 lawmakers allied to the DP did not honour Mr Kenyatta's invite.
The changes saw West Pokot Senator Samuel Poghisio elected as the new Leader of Majority, while Murang'a Senator Irungu Kangata was elevated to the position of Majority Whip.
Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo retained her seat as the Deputy Majority Leader, while nominated Senator Farhiya Ali got a major boost in her short political career, when she was elected the Deputy Majority Whip.
At his press briefing, Mr Murkomen claimed they would not leave office because no invitation for the State House meeting had been sent out and that no agenda had been circulated.
"The requirements that make it mandatory for more than half of the senators to remove a majority leader or minority leader were not met," Ms Kihika said in a letter to Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka.
The letter further protested the changes, saying the senators at State House were less than half of all Jubilee members, and that no vote was taken to confirm the changes.
President Kenyatta had invited all the senators to the meeting, but Ruto's allies claimed they were not invited, and that the changes were therefore illegitimate.
"If this will enable him focus on the more serious issues facing the country, then he can as well sack all of the people in his government who support the DP," said Nandi Senator Samson Cherargey.
However, Nandi Hills MP Alfred Keter supported the proposal to remove the two, arguing that it is unethical and immoral for Mr Murkomen to continue to contradict the President.
